Merchandising carton



Aug. 1, 1933. J. w. CAMPBELL I 1,920,353

I MERCHANDISING CARTON 7 Filed Feb. 6, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet' l l l l I a /.9 l 9 Inventor Aug. 1, 1933. J. w. CAMPBELL 1,920,353

- MERCHANDISING CARTON Filed Feb. 6, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fl l l 0/77 56 f1 Home y Inventor Patented Aug. 1, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MERC ' ISING CARTQN 3 Glaims.

This invention relates to improved boxes and cartons such as are used for packaging and retailing commodities and merchandise of the socalled dry goods variety, and it has more specific reference to a special packaging and dispensing carton for breakfast foods, granular commodities, condiments and the like.

Briefly stated, the principal novelty is predicated on the use of a double-acting "or duplex type of closing means which may be said to embody a main outer closure and a supplementary inner closure wherein the inner closure is especially designed to protect the contents of the carton after the primary or outer closure is opened in the home.

I am aware of the fact that many different kinds of dispensing cartons have been developed and equipped with peculiar and distinctive closing flaps. Notwithstanding this, I have discovcred the need for a new form of closing means complete carton before the closure means is opened for using the contents of the carton.

Fig; 2 is a central, longitudinal vertical sec-.

tional view employed principally to illustrate the relationshipof the superposed plies making up the top of the carton.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken approximately on the plane of the line 3--3 of Fig. 1 looking upwardly in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary and sectional and elevational view showing the double or duplex closure arrangement,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the inner or supplementary sealing closure or valve.

Attention is first invited to Figs. 1 and 2, wherein it will be seen that the carton is of general rectangular form, the same" being made from cardboard or suitable material and including a bottom 6, top '7, end walls 8 and 9, spaced parallel duplicate main or side walls 10. The

with the side walls 10. These cooperate with the inside or secondary closure unit or valve 19.

blank from which the box is formed is so made that the top and bottom are composed of overlapping longitudinal flanges 11 and 12. These are turned in from the upper and lower longitudinal edges of the side Walls 10 and glued or otherwise fastened together. Inward of the flanges 11 and 12 it will be observed that the lower end portions of the end walls 8 and 9 are provided with inturned superimposed flaps 13 glued or otherwise fastened in place. The upper end of the end wall 9 is also formed with a similar inturned reinforcing flap 13a. The corre-- sponding end portion of the end wall 8 is provided with a similar flap which is distinguished by the numeral 14 due to the distinguishable function which it here performs, it being glued to the inner faces of the flanges 11 and 12 as shown in Fig. 2,

Particular attention is called to the numeral 15 in Fig. 1 which designates a pair of tongues defined by the perforated or score line 16. This tongue is of substantially semicircular configuration. The tongue 15 together with the integral flap 14 forms what I designate as the primary or outer closure. Manifestly, however, this is a closure only during the initial packaging operation, since when it is purchased by the consumer. it then really functions as an opener. Consequently these features, as a unit, may be described either as a closure or an opener whichever is preferred. In Fig. 1,

I call attention to the numerals 17 and 18 which designate score lines formed in the flanges 11 and 12 at their points of juncture the score lines 16 to facilitate tearing and swinging of the outer closure to the out-of-theway position shown in Fig. 4 in order to expose As seen in Fig. 5 this comprises a'substantially rectangular leaf 20 which is attached at its right-hand end to the under side of the aforementioned flap 13a as shown in Fig. 2. It is to be observed however, that this has positively no connection at its opposite or left-hand end with the flap 14. In other words, it is free of this flap 14.

Secured to the under side of the'leaf by an attaching tang 21 is the depending inside closing flap 22 which normally bears against the inside of the upper portion of the end wall 8 in the manner shown to close the semicircular notch which is left after the tongue 15 is-torn off. Hence, this unit 19 functions as a basic n closure or valve which: comes into play when provision of the the primary or outer closure is torn and swung to the out-of-the-way position shown in Fig. 4. Moreoverby swinging the flap 22 to the position shown in Fig. 4, the notch is uncovered to iacilitate pouring of the contents of the box and then returned to the dotted line) position there shown to perform as a closure to maintain the contents of the box in good condition.

In practice, a suitable instrument (not shown) is used in cutting the opener tongue 15 and is drawn along the score line in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 1. Then the flanges 11 and 12 are out along the lines 1 and 18 in the direction of the arrows B. This permits the tongue 15, its attaching flap 14, and the two overlapping flanges 11 and 12 to be folded up and back in the dirmtion of the arrow A to the position shown in Fig. 4 in order to expose the inner safety valve unit' 19. As before stated this particular unit is employed independently as an effective closure by the consumer so as to protect the contents of the carton after the features 14 and 15 have been thus torn and swung back.

Novelty is believed to reside in the provision of a suitable carton having a pouring notch together with a flexible valve unit attached to the interior and preferably to the top of the carton to be utilized as a secondary and subsequent closure for the box after the notch is exposed by tearing back the tongue 15. Such novelty appears to be present irrespective of the construction of the tongue 15 and its associated details v Further novelty is believed to reside inthe double closure arrangement wherein the features 14 and 15 serve as a closure only during the packaging and sale period and wherein these are torn and swung to an outof-the-way position to bring into play the secondary on internal closure which is thereafter used until the contents or the carton is disposed of.

It is thought that the description taken in connection with the drawings will enable a clear understanding of the invention to be had. Therefore, a more lengthy description of the invention is thought unnecessary.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that minor changes coming .within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

Having thus described by invention, what I claim as new is:--

1. A dispensing and packaging carton comprising a box-like container embodying a bottom, top, end and side walls, the upper portions of one of the end walls being formed with a perforated line designed to define a pouring notch, and an internal closure unit attached to the under side of said top and embodying a closing flap for said notch, said flap being usable after the notch is formed by the consumer.

2. Inc. carton construction of the class described, a. box-like container, the upper portion of one end wall thereof being formed with a semicircular score line defining a pouring notch and a box opening tongue, said tongue being connected to the under side of the top, and predetermined portions of the top being joined to the side walls through the instrumentality of score lines to permit the tongue to be torn loose and swung back to an out-of-the-way position in conjunction with the adjacent portion of the top-end, and supplementary valve means secured to'the inner side of the top to cooperate with said notch after the tongue is torn and swung back.

3. In a carton construction of the class described, a' box-like container, the upper portion of one end wall thereof being formed with a semicircular score line defining a pouring notch and an opening tongue, said tongue being connected to the under side'of the top, and predetermined portions of the top being joined to the side walls through ,the instrumentality of score lines to permit the tongue to be torn free and swung back to an out-ol-the-way position in conjunction with the adjacent portion of the top-end, supplementary valve means secured to the inner side of the top to cooperate with said notch after the tongue is torn out, said means comprising an attaching leaf anchored at one end to the under side of the, top at a point remote from the notchythe free end portion thereof being formed with a depending closing flap contacting the inner face of the notched portion of the end wall.

JAMES WILLIAM CAMPBELL. 

